History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 21

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280

USA > Vermont > Windsor County > Royalton > History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911 > Part 21

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HISTORY OF ROYALTON, VERMONT

From family traditions it seems that Edward Kneeland, father of Joseph, had come to Royalton and begun clearing a lot, and building a house for his son Joseph, who had married in 1778. A granddaughter of Daniel Havens, and a granddaugh- ter of Lorenza Havens Lovejoy stated more than twenty-five years ago that the Kneelands were living in the house of Daniel Havens at the time Royalton was destroyed. If so, they probably had their own house nearly ready for occupancy, as Daniel was soon to be married. The brother of Joseph, Edward, Jr., was taken prisoner also. He was then thirteen years old. From that branch of the family it is learned that Edward was retained by the Indians for two or more years, that he traveled with them from the source to the mouth of the Connecticut river and back again, was sold to a Frenchman who had often seen and admired him, and wished to adopt him as his own son, but as he desired to return to his own people he was allowed to do so. His father was dead, his home burned, and his mother not to be found. He wandered down into Massachusetts, and at last found his mother in Hadley. He settled there in 1788, and married Elizabeth Peck of Rehoboth. He retained many of his Indian character- istics to the day of his death. According to the tradition in his family, Joseph was killed because he persisted in asking for clothing for his younger brother, who was taken from bed with little to protect him from the keen October air.

At the Hutchinson house the Indians indulged in a frolic. They sawed off one leg of a table, so as to let it down, and then jumped on it, hooting and laughing. After Mr. Hutchinson re- turned, the leg was replaced and the table used many years. That leg is still preserved in the family of Daniel Bliss, and can be seen in one of the cuts of relics. Mrs. Hutchinson was al- lowed to talk with her husband before he was taken away, and he told her to get word to Lieut. Stevens or some others that, if they could collect 200 men, they could attack the Indians success- fully. After his departure Mrs. Hutchinson mounted a horse that had escaped in the jungle, and took the trail for Connecticut, with her two-year-old Rebecca in her arms. There her husband found her on his return a year later. He enlisted there for three months, and at expiration of the time returned to Tunbridge and built another log house.

Mrs. Benjamin Parkhurst went to Norwich with her father on his return from his visit to her, and she remained there that winter, though their house was not destroyed.

A Hartford man came to William Lovejoy's the next day after the raid, and said he could take one back with him. Lo- renza Havens went with him, riding on his horse. When he reached home he found his child dying, and she remained there

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for some time, then went to Norwich, where her sister Hannah lived, who married Daniel Baldwin. Her brother Joseph re- turned from his captivity Sep. 27, 1781, and most of the other prisoners were exchanged in about one year, except Adan Durkee, who died in captivity.

The majority of the settlers in Royalton remained and made the best of their sad fortune. Assistance from outside was ren- dered and provisions came in. Temporary homes were built. The mill was burned, and a bee was made for rebuilding it, but it was some time before it was available for preparing lumber. Daniel Havens carted boards from the George Cowdery place on his back to his lot, and put up a house and was married Nov. 30th of that year. The deprivation and suffering of that winter never has been written and never can be. Neighbors shared their last loaf of bread with each other, and to make the meal go as far as possible in satisfying the cries of their children, it was made into gruel. Some of these heroic souls sleep uncared for in our cemeteries today, and this generation enjoys the fruits of their self-sacrifice.

Reasons have been sought why the Indians selected Royalton for attack. It had been a frontier town, headquarters for the militia, had had a fort, but was now defenceless, was a thriving farming town, and a place familiar to the Indians and tories in the company making the attack. These would seem sufficient reasons, without seeking a personally vindictive motive. Such, however, have been sought and given. One offered by Dr. Alden C. Latham is quoted.

"In the spring of 1780 as Mr. Robert Havens was making maple sugar in the woods, in Royalton, a stranger tired and nearly starved came to his boiling place and stated that he was lost and had been wandering for a long time without food. Mr. Havens gave him the remains of his dinner, asked him some questions and advised him to go into a corner (where he had provided straw for himself to rest upon when he had to boil late at night) and get some sleep. This he did, and as soon as he slept Mr. Havens called Daniel Havens, his son, and told him to go to the house, take a horse and go for Capt. E. Parkhurst who was an officer of the peace and lived in the first house in Sharon, just below Dr. John Manchester's. He came and the man was ques- tioned; stated that he had travelled through Canada and did not know where he was or where he was going. 'I think,' said Capt. P. 'that your business is such that we must look you over,' and thereupon he searched him, found papers secreted in his boots, took him prisoner, and sent him to Albany, the capital of the country under York claims, where the man was executed as a spy. While Mr. Havens lay hidden on the day of the burning of Royalton, he heard men come and stand on the log in which he was, and say in effect, that if they could find old Havens and Capt. Parkhurst, it would be worth more to them than all the plunder and all the other prisoners. Is not this the secret cause of the attack on Royalton? Was it not done to revenge the death of that British spy?"

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There is no record yet found in the New York archives verifying the death of this spy. No one of the three grand- children of Robert Havens now living has any clear remembrance of such an incident. Huldah Morgan, a granddaughter of Lo- renza Havens Lovejoy, related in 1880 that at one time a hungry Indian came to the house of Robert Havens, who fed him, took his gun from him and sent him away, and presumably he died, as he was half starved. When the Indians were ransacking the house of Mr. Havens they found this gun, and began a great chattering. These may be two incidents, or versions of the same one, both perhaps differing from the real facts. Dr. Latham took great pains to get all possible information regarding the burning of Royalton, and seems to have been satisfied that this was authentic.

Not till the generation which had participated in the tragedy of October 16th, 1780, had passed away was any effort made to live over again the events connected with that day. During the Civil War the Royalton Soldiers' Aid Society in its efforts to raise money to send to the boys in blue planned an entertainment commemorative of the Indian raid, to be given April 1, 1863. A band gave its services, and a program of seventeen numbers was prepared, the chief feature of which was to be a dramatiza- tion of scenes from this eventful day in the history of the town. There were eight scenes, three of which are preserved, the pos- session of Miss Gertrude Denison. The characters, as was be- fitting, were mostly women, boys and Indians, who enacted the horrors of savage attack, using the words as given in Steele's narrative. Mesdames Downer, Hutchinson, and Belknap ap- peared on the stage, though, according to the Downer family record, Mrs. Downer was dead at the time of the raid, and Simeon Belknap was not married until three years afterwards, but then, who wants to be true to facts in a drama ? Mrs. Hendee and Lieut. Horton of course were present, and her eloquent pleading no doubt drew tears from the patriotic and admiring audience. As a sample of the drama, which netted a nice sum, there being no expense in staging it, Scene 1 is given.

"Scene 1.

Early morning-Mistress of house and young lady preparing for breakfast. Children with uncombed hair. Suddenly a man puts his head in at the door and exclaims,

'The Indians are coming!'

Women and children cry 'Oh!' and run about. The Indian war whoop is heard, and immediately afterward several Indians rush in. Great consternation. Children try to hide. Indians seize all the valu- ables they can find and while they are dragging off the boys,

(Curtain Falls.)"

When the centennial anniversary of the burning of Roy- alton approached, the town voted to observe it. There was a

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little hitch in the preparations for it, owing to the fact that the exercises could not be held in both villages, but as South Roy- alton was better adapted to entertaining guests, that place was chosen for holding the celebration. A committee of arrangement was selected, composed of Mr. and Mrs. D. C. Jones, Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Belknap, Mr. and Mrs. M. J. Sargent, Mr. A. H. Lamb, Mr. and Mrs. Henry Manchester, and Mrs. D. W. Lovejoy.

The day was ushered in by the firing of cannon. A collec- tion of rare relics had been gathered, and were exhibited in the vacant store of A. N. King. Mr. Asa Perrin furnished thirty- six articles and W. W. Culver nearly the same number. There was a chair which had belonged to Gen. Stevens, a horn from the first ox killed in town, the first flax wheel brought into Royalton, once the property of Lorenza Havens, shoe buckles, pocket book and coin taken from the body of the murdered Pember, the bosom pin that Mrs. John Hutchinson put in her mouth to save it from the Indians, a piece of the quilt which the savages gave Mrs. Elias Curtis to protect her from the cold, and other articles to the number of 270, many of them of great value. All day long the room was thronged when no special event was going on outside, and the old lady spinning flax in one corner was a great curiosity to the young people.

At ten every one was alert to see the street parade, headed by Marshal D. C. Jones and his aides, M. J. Sargent and C. H. Woodard. In succession came the South Royalton cornet band, the drum corps, Home Militia Guards commanded by Capt. A. H. Lamb, the President of the day, Hon. C. M. Lamb and aid, clergy- men, speakers and invited guests, gentlemen on horseback in holiday attire, and one young lady, Miss Mary Durkee-great- granddaughter of Lieut. Timothy Durkee-wearing dress and bonnet a century old, and seventeen wagons containing ancient and modern agricultural and household implements under the charge of E. F. Parkhurst, all provided with appropriate ban- ners. The costumes of cavaliers and gentlemen of ye olden time were very elegant. The procession started from the hotel and passed several times around the common, and then left the arti- cles there on exhibition.

At noon more than twenty of the nearest descendants of the sufferers were entertained at dinner at the hotel, and about 300 who took part in the exercises of the day were served in Tar- bell's hall. The people of the village also entertained a large number of guests.

At one o'clock the president of the day called the multitude to order from the balcony of the hotel, and Rev. S. K. B. Per- kins offered prayer. Hon. D. C. Denison then addressed the people for an hour on the settlement of the country, and of Ver-

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mont and Royalton in particular, closing with a prophecy of the glory and prosperity of our nation. Col. Samuel E. Pingree followed in an eloquent address, in which he paid a fitting tribute to the heroism of Mrs. Handy. Rev. S. K. B. Perkins was the third speaker, whose account of some of the early settlers was interrupted by the sudden appearance of the Indians on the hill in front of the hotel. A log hut was standing on the hill, and from out this hut rushed the terrified mother, who mounted a horse and rode towards the woods followed by the screaming children. A feather bed was tossed out by the savages, and emptied of its contents amid their exultant yells. Windows were destroyed and everything else the house contained, then it was fired. As soon as the flames rose up the savages became furious, running about the building and throwing burning brands upon the roof. Soon they gathered the captured children together and began a war dance around them. The firing of guns at their left instantly hushed their hooting, and leaving the children they retreated to the right among the hills and made a stand. A body of militia approached on the left, and below another body was held in reserve. The red-skins were surrounded and driven into camp, and after a hundred years, if Jonathan Carpenter had been living, he would have had a good "story for a Whig to tell." This part of the program was admirably carried out by Edwin F. Smith.

There were present of the nearest descendants of the suf- ferers Daniel and Pearl Belknap, Mrs. Marion Weston and Mrs. Lydia Beard, children of Simeon Belknap, Mrs. Hannah Curtis, daughter of Mrs. Lorenza (Havens) Lovejoy, and Mrs. Huldah Cushman, granddaughter of the same, William Smith, grandson of Zadock Steele, Mrs. Samuel Pingree, granddaughter of the same, and Judge William Steele and D. Z. Steele, nephews of the same, and Edward Rix, grandson of Daniel Rix. In the village at the time were Mrs. Louisa M. Lamb, Mrs. Emily R. Morse, and Mrs. Laura Foster, children of Jerusha Rix, the daughter of Daniel Rix.

It was estimated that 4,000 were present on this occasion.

A fourth of a century after this centennial it came into the heart of one of Royalton's loyal and distinguished sons, Daniel G. Wild of Brooklyn, N. Y., to contribute toward the perpetua- tion of the memory of this saddest day in the history of the town. The thought fruited in the form of a gift of $200 placed in the hands of the Woman's club of Royalton, for the purpose of secur- ing the erection of a monument at some suitable place in the town. The club accepted the commission with enthusiasm, and proceeded to carry out the wishes of the donor. The site se- lected for the monument was the small village "Green" on the

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west side of the main street in Royalton, and directly facing what is known as Bridge street. The monument was made from Barre granite, and the work was entrusted to W. V. Soper of South Royalton. The inscription on one side is shown in the cut. The reverse side has the following :

COMMEMORATING THE BURNING OF ROYALTON

BY INDIANS Oct. 16, 1780.

The monument as it stands is six feet high, three and one-half feet wide, and two feet thick.

Wednesday, May 23, 1906, was selected as the date for the unveiling of the monument, which has come to be called the "Indian Monument." The program was arranged by the Wom- an's club, which made Mrs. Charles W. Joiner President of the day, an office which she very admirably filled. A platform was erected near the monument, where the exercises began in the presence of about 700 people, with a prayer by Rev. Joel F. Whitney. A poem written by Col. C. W. Scarff of Burlington was recited by Miss Katharine Dewey, and then the monument was unveiled by four children, Max Bliss, David Wild, Helen and Gertrude Dewey. Max Bliss is a great-great-grandson of John Hutchinson, David Wild a great-great-grandson of Garner Rix, and the Dewey children are great-great-granddaughters of the same man.

After the unveiling, the rest of the program was carried out in the Congregational church. Here prayer was offered by Rev. E. E. Wells, the 33d Psalm was read by the Rev. Sherman Good- win, and a solo was finely rendered by Mrs. Perley S. Belknap. The audience then gave their attention to the orator of the day, Rev. William Skinner Hazen, D. D., of Beverly, Mass., a grand- son of Rev. Azel Washburn, one of the first pastors of Royalton. His address was an interesting resumé of the events of Oct. 16, 1780. Of especial interest was his account of the story of the cap- ture of Garner Rix, as it was told by Dea. Rix when an old man. An excerpt is given with the suggestion that some margin must be allowed for statements regarding a fort so near them, and the presence of men in the company when the Indians surrounded the fugitives. A seven-year-old child could hardly be expected to remember accurately the details of such a frightful time.

"From different sources I have gathered the following facts which I will give mostly in the language of Grandpa Rix in his talks with the children. 'As we hurried on,' he says, 'we encountered dozens of men, women and children who had fled from their homes terror stricken, seeking some place of safety. Some fled to the mountains, others to

ERECTED BY THE ROYALTON WOMAN'S CLUB

OCTOBER 16 ** 1905

MONUMENT COMMEMORATING THE BURNING OF ROYALTON, OCT. 16, 1780. Presented to the Town by Daniel G. Wild.

Four Simonly

Osaid

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the woods, while larger numbers kept the road, following down the river road towards the fort, some four or five miles distant. We trav- elled on with all possible speed, but were not within a mile of the fort when the terrible war whoop of the savages resounded in our ears. On they came yelling and shouting and hideous in their fantastic dress and war paint. In a few minutes they have overtaken and surrounded us, a little company of defenceless men, women and children. My little brother, Joe, and myself were torn from mother notwithstanding her piteous pleadings and entreaties. I had a stout club in my hand with which I tried to defend myself, determined to sell my liberty as dear as possible, but that was quickly wrested from me. We were securely bound and marched back to the place where the captain of the band awaited the coming of the raiding party. Oh, the scenes of that ter- rible day, dear children, seem burned on my memory, and even today, I can hardly think of them with any degree of composure.' Then de- scribing the efforts of Mrs. Hendee to secure the release of the boys of which we have already spoken, Mr. Rix says, 'I could never describe to you the utter despair which took possession of me when I found Mrs. Hendee's efforts for my release were in vain. My disappointment and grief were too deep for tears, and to be torn from my parents in this cruel manner seemed worse than death. It was a long march through the wilderness and with other prisoners I was taken to Mon- treal.'

He was loaded with heavy packs which he carried as long as he could and then fell under them. He said if he had been told that he would be killed, he could not have carried the burden farther. When his Indian keeper took in the situation, the boy was relieved of a part of his burden. But to continue the narrative in Mr. Rix's own words, 'A kind-hearted French lady saw me and became interested in my be- half, and, at length, succeeded in obtaining my release from the Indians. She took me to her home and treated me with the utmost kindness, and at last was instrumental in sending me home. In parting she made me a present of a gold guinea.' 'Did you spend it on the way home, Grandpa?' 'No, but I will tell you, children, how I did spend that guinea. A few Sabbaths after I reached home, a young minister came to preach for us. The price of his services was a guinea a Sunday. As father was treasurer of the society, the duty of paying the minister devolved on him, but there was no money in the treasury. I went to the little box in which I kept my small treasures and brought the guinea to father to pay the minister.' 'That is a noble-hearted boy,' said my father, 'but you shall never lose anything by this, my son.'

Mr. Rix describes his reception on reaching home in this inter- esting manner. 'One Sabbath morning in October, the family were at breakfast, when suddenly the door opened and I bounded into the room and was clasped in my parents' arms. "Bless the Lord, oh my soul!" exclaimed my father. "We have trusted in Thee and Thou hast brought it to pass, that Thou hast restored to us our dear son, blessed be Thy holy name!" My dear little brothers and sisters crowded around me almost wild with joy, as my mother said, "I think this is the happiest day of all our lives.'"

After the address a prayer written by Prof. William Rix of Utica, N. Y., was read by Rev. Levi Wild. Mr. Rix is a grand- son, and Mr. Wild a great-grandson of Garner Rix.

The next number of the program was an original poem by Rev. J. Newton Perrin of Sanbornton, N. H. Mr. Perrin is a great-grandson of Garner Rix. The poem follows.

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THE BURNING OF ROYALTON.

The cabin of the pioneer, Dotting White River lands, had come To where, with mingled hope and fear, Was christened soon fair Royalton.

O Royalton, our Royalton,

Mother of loving children thou:

Of whom the many have passed on; While these thy wings are nesting now; Others claim heritage in thee From where'er winds of heaven blow, Still cherishing the dear roof-tree

Though by strange waters they may sow.

The settlers, beating measures true Against the woody giants, clear The virgin soil till not a few

Wide farms and tillages appear. Sleek sheep and cattle graze the slopes Of rounded hills; and oft are found Barns that are tested to their copes, For peace and plenty here abound. Sounds of blithe industry and cheer Float from the dwellings. At the mill The old stone swirls to noisy gear, Led by the streamlet from the hill. The calm-eyed oxen press the yoke, Their burdens slowly gaining ground, While hoof of horse with rapid stroke Awakes betimes the echoes round. And children play about the home, Nor share their guardians' alarms. The maiden deftly plies the loom. The mother holds the babe in arms.

Dread war! The crimes done in thy name Pierce to the skies, nor die away! And blood and woe have cried, "For shame!"

Since men first fought in ancient day. A Briton's blood the border stains; Revenge no golden rule may know; England her red men fierce retains; And settlements must be laid low!

Yet all is fair in war forsooth? Then is much foul which men call fair,

As when on happy hearths the sleuth Steals suddenly and unaware! Filling primeval water-ways Down from the wigwams of the north,

A cruel, sullen horde forays To ruin homes of noble worth!

October as a glad surprise Floods the far-famed Green Mountain state. Then hills bouquets toss to the skies, With autumn's coloring replete.

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A peaceful Sabbath day, begun In rest and worship, had its fill, And at the nightfall dropped the sun Behind his well-accustomed hill. The sturdy farm folk are awake By the first glint the dawn affords, And some the morning meal partake, And some have gone to fields and woods,-

When, as a herd let loose from hell, The Redcoats' troop of Copperskins, With knife and noose and torch and yell And gun and tomahawk, begins Wild havoc homestead haunts among! Falls the forged bolt as from clear sky! Who stays behind meets captive thong; Who turns to flee, if seen, must die. And those there were of tender years, And women left alone that morn, Who rose to weep most bitter tears, And find their loved ones from them torn!

Alas the day! Around the hearth When grandsires told it to the young, All hushed would be the cry of mirth, And children to their mothers clung. The dreadful scourge had passed full soon: But on those dimly burning pyres Hopes of the desolate consume;

While hapless husbands, lovers, sires, Sons, brothers, in captivity Or death are held. "O Lord how long?"

Vengeance belongeth unto Thee! And mercy doth to Thee belong! Oh, silence, smoke, and sacrifice! Yet suffering captives shall retrace The trail, homes on these ruins rise, And industry here throb apace. But never will the dead return! Nor life be as it was before, For howe'er much may memory spurn Her tragic guest, he's at the door!

Vicarious fathers, in those days Ye dared life for the race unborn! And heartily we speak your praise; The cup of eulogy we turn. Fadeless exemplars! Hero band! Strong and unconquerable were ye, Upspringing to possess the land When crushed by sad adversity! And, daughters of this vicinage, By whose good auspices we meet, What high ideals in that age, Of womanhood both brave and sweet Adown the vista we can see! Those annals never shall be told Without a meed to Dame Hendee And heroines of dauntless mold!

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Ah, Royalton, old Royalton, The stately centuries glide by! Yet hearts will never cease to turn Back to the dire calamity Which tried thee as the gold is tried, Nor in the furnace found thee dross, But of true worth and purified-

That crucible thy lustrous cross!

Following the poem were short speeches by Gov. Charles J. Bell, Judge Hiram R. Steele of Brooklyn, N. Y., a grandson of Zadock Steele, and Ex-Gov. S. E. Pingree of Hartford. The singing of America and the benediction by Rev. C. E. Beals closed the literary program. Close to the church stands the fine old, colonial house of the Denisons, and there a reception was given by Mrs. Clara Denison Mcclellan, assisted by Mrs. Henry W. Dutton, president of the Woman's club, Mrs. Levi Wild, Mrs. G. A. Laird, Mrs. R. B. Galusha, Mrs. A. W. Lyman, Miss Ger- trude M. Denison, Miss Alice Chase Denison, Mrs. P. S. Belknap, and Miss C. L. Stickney.

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History of Royalton, Vermont, with family genealogies, 1769-1911, Part 21

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847- Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company Number of Pages: 1280

Author: Lovejoy, Mary Evelyn Wood, 1847-
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Burlington, Vt., Free press printing company
Number of Pages: 1280